THE BEST LIGHT WE HAVE

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 4, 1858

“THE BEST LIGHT WE HAVE.”

“If we live up to the best light we have, is it not all that can be required of us?” Such is the question that is often raised by individuals when an attempt is made to enjoin upon them the claims of the fourth commandment. ‘If a man lives up to the best light he has, is not that all that will be required of him?’ We unhesitatingly answer, Yes. But to those who would make this a plea for shutting their eyes to the plain light of God’s word, or living in violation of any of his plain requirements, where there is a possibility of its conflicting with their worldly interests or popular standing, we have a word more to say.

1. Has not God given us a standard by which we are to develope characters suitable for an entrance into his everlasting kingdom? He has.

2. Has he not expressed his will in terms which the simplest may easily understand? All must admit that he has; for God would not impose upon any of his creatures requirements expressed in a doubtful or ambiguous manner.

3. Have you not the word of God before your own eyes? The answer must still be, Yes.

Consider, then, the foundation upon which the plea rests. “The best light you have.” Have you not the Bible? Yes. And is not the Bible, according to your own confession, plain and unmistakable in its requirements? Yes. Can you be said to be living up to the best light you have, till you have thoroughly examined that word, to learn your duty, seeking at the same time the aid of God’s Holy Spirit to enlighten your understanding? No.

Now it would seem that the commandments of God are too plain to be mistaken by any one. The moral law is simple, concise, and direct in all its requirements; and we declare, without fear of contradiction, that no effort would ever have been made to show that law abolished, no effort to show a change in it in one single particular jot or tittle, were it not for its precept touching the Sabbath day. The world, we admit, has arrived at a very unfortunate pass for those who would observe the ten commandments “in letter and in spirit too;” for whoever would do this must take a course distinct from, and opposite to, the customs, even the religious customs, of the present time. And hence the efforts which have been made, multiform and subversive of each other, to so modify the commandments either in their meaning or their requirements, as to adapt them to the prevailing religious practices of our own days. They reverse the order of the Almighty, and endeavor to conform the law to their actions, rather than their actions to the law. Says Dymond in his essays on morality, “One of the most powerful causes of the slow amendment of public institutions consists in this circumstance, that most men endeavor rather to justify what exists, than to consider whether it ought to exist or not.” What better exemplification of this declaration can be found than in the prevailing practice of Sunday-keeping? We judge not harshly in this matter, but speak from experience and observation. And here we will state again what we have often stated heretofore, our firm conviction that no person can thoroughly examine the Sabbath question, and with perfect honesty of heart, and perfect purity of motive, unbiased by any consideration, extraneous to an all-absorbing desire to follow truth and Christ for its and his own sake,—impossible, we say, for any one to examine the question under these circumstances, and reject the seventh day.

But says one, “I have examined the Bible on this subject. I believe sincerely, and I cannot see that the Bible teaches the perpetuity of the seventh day as the Sabbath. In this conclusion I am honest and sincere.” You may be. We do not say that every one who does not keep the Sabbath, thinks or understands that the Bible teaches it. There are doubtless very many who sincerely think that the Bible lays upon us no such claims, and consequently that the service is as superfluous as it is unpopular. Are not such then living up to the best light they have, and is not their course justifiable in the sight of God? We cannot say it; for the Bible specifies certain particulars in which men are liable to deceive themselves on such points. All that we can say is, Let every one in view of them, examine his own heart, and determine for himself whereabouts he stands.

You know, reader, that the Saviour speaks of some who love darkness rather than light, and who will not come to the light lest their deeds should be reproved. The coming of the light in such cases is their condemnation. John iii, 19, 20. Again, the Apostle speaks of some whom the god of this world hath blinded, whose foolish hearts are darkened. 2 Cor. iv, 4; Rom. i, 21. Again we read of others of whom it is said that the light that is in them becomes darkness. And such cases draw out from the Saviour’s own lips the exclamation, How great is that darkness! Matt. vi, 23.

The light we might have, is the light we have; therefore to live up to the light we have, and to the light we see, are two things. A man may shut his eyes and see nothing; whereas he might open them and see a great deal; and while he is groping his way along with eyes closed, he is walking up to all the light he sees, but not to all the light he has; for this latter condition supposes that he will have his eyes wide open, and make use of all the means of light within his power. But does a man think he shuns responsibility by shutting his eyes to the light that blazes full upon his pathway? We recently heard of a man who would not read the Bible. And he justified, or sought to justify, his course on this very ground: no light, no responsibility; as though by refusing to come to a knowledge of the truth, he could avoid the condemnation of its violation. Deluded soul! Does he not know that the duty of coming to the light and seeking a knowledge of the truth, is equally imperative with that of obedience after the knowledge is received? A similar course some have pursued concerning the special subjects of Present Truth. Such, of course, are not living up to the light they have.

But how with those whose light has become darkness? We know there are individuals whose minds seem to be enveloped in gross darkness, and who seem to be growing darker and darker, retrograding instead of advancing. They may be sincerely following the best light they see. They may really not be able to understand that the Bible teaches so and so, in matters which are perfectly plain to those who are standing in the counsel of God. But are they walking up to the light they have? We believe there will invariably be found in the cases of such individuals, a point of time when they did reject, willfully and dishonestly, some truth that was presented before them; and from such a step, a bee-line into darkness and error is not difficult to find or follow. From that point their condemnation commences. A small movement is sufficient to switch a train from the track; but ever beyond that it is on the wrong track. The course must be retraced, the rejected light acknowledged, the heart set right. Multitudes may be found in almost imperceptible gradation, all the way down from those standing in the clear light, to those who are enveloped in gross darkness. Where their period of condemnation commences, or how many of the masses we come in contact with, have seen and rejected, we cannot say. God who knoweth the hearts of all men, can judge rightly in this matter.

Those who are thus groping their way in darkness, may be honestly living up to all the light they now see. Is this sufficient? No. The guilt of their previous rejection still rests upon them. For no one can innocently reach that state. It is not without the consent of the mind that truth is rejected and darkness succeeds to its place. It is not till some selfish or unworthy motive is allowed to triumph over principles of strict integrity. It is only those who do not like to retain God in their knowledge, that are given over to a reprobate mind; [Rom. i, 28;] only those who do not resist the god of this world, that have their minds darkened by him.

Who then can be said to be living up to the light he has? Not the one who has taken no pains to come to the light; for in this he neglects his duty; and not he surely who has seen the light, and refused to receive it. Let not this plea, then, brethren, that a person is living up to the best light he has, and that is all that is required, stifle investigation. We are not prepared to accept such an excuse. Hold up the light to those around you. It is their duty to see it. They may reject it if they will. But still the solemn work must go forward. The message we bear is a testing message. Decisions upon it will be final. May the Lord enable many to see the light, and having seen, to be swift to obey.